With our recent renovations to the school's library, we have been provided with a $10,000 budget to create a state-of-the-art multimedia production lab. Seeing as we have plenty of furniture in surplus due to the new purchases, the entire allotment will go towards purchasing the highest quality and most reliable technology available. The new Multimedia Suite will take up half of the office space located behind the library circulation desk, which creates both a more supervised and a quieter place for students to work on their audio and video production. The following items should be purchased for this new space:
#1 - 5 iMacs pre-loaded with Final Cut Pro X video editing software (total cost $7994.95)
By far, the most ambitious purchase for our new multimedia lab will be the computer system that will be usedfor video production. As opposed to going with an inferior model, we consulted Dave Daniels and Michael Noble, our school's Modern Media teachers who have over 50 years of combined teaching experience in the field. Both teachers said that they would recommend nothing less than the iMac to be used for video production. Based on their expertise, we would choose to purchase the 21.5 inch model with a 2.7 GHz processor. It includes a 1 TB hard drive that should be more than enough space for students to store their files. It is also compatible with our current external hard drives and network storage. The iMac comes pre-loaded with software such as Garage Band and iMovie, so students will be able to enhance their audio and perform basic video editing. The latest iMac comes with a 3.5/5 rating from Macworld in its most recent review. Macworld praises the iMac's new Haswell processor, but what really catches the eye is its improved integrated graphics option (Galbraith). For our more experienced student video editors, we have included the Final Cut Pro X video editing software on each of the iMacs. This was an additional $300 per computer, but well worth the cost. This software is used by our students on the Channel 77 production team to make their exciting news casts, which can be seen here. The program allows for students to easily edit their videos using an advanced program with features such as Magnetic Timeline and the Multicam features. The software also provides students with audio mixing capabilities to polish their videos' sound. This thorough review by Gary Adcock of Macworld outlines several of the key features of Final Cut Pro X, our favorites being the Clip Browser and the multitude of post-production tools that allow users to come up with a polished product that looks professionally produced at any level.
Also a recommendation by our Modern Media teachers, the Canon Vixia camcorder is an affordable product with a solid reputation and plenty of features for student use. Most importantly for our purposes, it is an easy-to-use model with a touch screen interface that is uncomplicated and navigable for students. This cuts down on the amount of training that we will have to do with students who check out the camera. However, it does have plenty of features that will allow for advanced video production. A recent Cnet review praised the camera's newest features such as the ability to record in two different video file formats simultaneously, its Wi-fi, and (important for costs) its increased battery life. Reviewed.com rates the Canon Vixia HF-R40 a 7.5/10, which is a very high score for a budget camcorder, naming it the runner-up for best budget camcorder in 2012 and giving it an Editor's Choice Award. While reading the reviews and looking at the specs on the camera can tell you that it is a quality budget camera, it is more useful to see the camera in action as Fred from Youtube's Gear Obsession Channel does in this demonstration. As you can see, the camera provides quality resolution and students with smart phones will find the ability to operate the camera remotely through an app to be a practical feature.
Great videos not only need a crisp image, as captured by our HD camcorders, but they also require quality sound production. For use in our editing suite of iMacs, we will provide the students with this headset manufactured by Caliphone. We first came across the company when reading reviews for headsets on a variety of sites. This review by eSchool News outlines the company's new policy of providing a two-year warranty for schools. This truly appeals to our initiative to provide students with a quality product that is affordable. The technical specs on this product show it to have earcups with outside noise rejection, an adjustable noise-cancelling microphone for adding audio during the editing process, and USB connectivity. The headset is fully compatible with iMacs and is the first headset to be washable (once that you separate the cord, of course). A quality product that lasts should give us plenty of use in the multimedia suite.
As Robb Montgomery states, "Only avoid using a tripod when it is impractical." (Betancourt) This budget tripod is originally designed with hunting in mind, but is compatible with the Canon Vixia camcorder as well as binoculars and spotting scopes. While most reviews, such as this one, are restricted to technical specs, we appreciate this model for its price and its adjustable leg height of 63 inches. Due to its affordable price of $25, we feel it would be important and not cost-prohibitive to purchase a tripod for each camera.
One problem that exists with budget camcorders is the quality of sound captured by the built-in microphones on most models. Personally, we feel as though this is where manufacturers tend to cut costs. For this reason, we feel as though it would be beneficial for our more serious vloggers and amateur videophiles to have the use of this excellent product, which is compatible with the 3.5 mm input on the Canon Vixia. A shotgun mic is used to capture audio within a set radius at a distance and eliminate background noise. This product can be found for an affordable price on Amazon.com and has mostly positive user ratings. While reviews are hard to come by on this model, we prefer this demonstration provided by Bucky of the Azden's capabilities. Its default setting provides a clear sound free of the "hiss" captured by some mics and we also like that it is compatible with the Vixia's 2-channel stereo mode. As Bucky mentions, an added bonus is that the Azden will not leach the camcorders battery, instead relying on its own battery power).
Final cost: $9,947.95
Works Cited
Adcock, Gary. "Final Cut Pro X Takes a Radical New Approach." Macworld. IDG Consumer & SMB, 24 June 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
Proposed Media Lab Equipment
With our recent renovations to the school's library, we have been provided with a $10,000 budget to create a state-of-the-art multimedia production lab. Seeing as we have plenty of furniture in surplus due to the new purchases, the entire allotment will go towards purchasing the highest quality and most reliable technology available. The new Multimedia Suite will take up half of the office space located behind the library circulation desk, which creates both a more supervised and a quieter place for students to work on their audio and video production. The following items should be purchased for this new space:
#1 - 5 iMacs pre-loaded with Final Cut Pro X video editing software (total cost $7994.95)
For our more experienced student video editors, we have included the Final Cut Pro X video editing software on each of the iMacs. This was an additional $300 per computer, but well worth the cost. This software is used by our students on the Channel 77 production team to make their exciting news casts, which can be seen here. The program allows for students to easily edit their videos using an advanced program with features such as Magnetic Timeline and the Multicam features. The software also provides students with audio mixing capabilities to polish their videos' sound. This thorough review by Gary Adcock of Macworld outlines several of the key features of Final Cut Pro X, our favorites being the Clip Browser and the multitude of post-production tools that allow users to come up with a polished product that looks professionally produced at any level.
#2 - 5 Canon Vixia HF-R40 digital camcorders (total cost $1,245)
Also a recommendation by our Modern Media teachers, the Canon Vixia camcorder is an affordable product with a solid reputation and plenty of features for student use. Most importantly for our purposes, it is an easy-to-use model with a touch screen interface that is uncomplicated and navigable for students. This cuts down on the amount of training that we will have to do with students who check out the camera. However, it does have plenty of features that will allow for advanced video production. A recent Cnet review praised the camera's newest features such as the ability to record in two different video file formats simultaneously, its Wi-fi, and (important for costs) its increased battery life. Reviewed.com rates the Canon Vixia HF-R40 a 7.5/10, which is a very high score for a budget camcorder, naming it the runner-up for best budget camcorder in 2012 and giving it an Editor's Choice Award. While reading the reviews and looking at the specs on the camera can tell you that it is a quality budget camera, it is more useful to see the camera in action as Fred from Youtube's Gear Obsession Channel does in this demonstration. As you can see, the camera provides quality resolution and students with smart phones will find the ability to operate the camera remotely through an app to be a practical feature.
#3 - 5 Caliphone Titanium Series HPK-1010 stereo headsets (total cost $465)
Great videos not only need a crisp image, as captured by our HD camcorders, but they also require quality sound production. For use in our editing suite of iMacs, we will provide the students with this headset manufactured by Caliphone. We first came across the company when reading reviews for headsets on a variety of sites. This review by eSchool News outlines the company's new policy of providing a two-year warranty for schools. This truly appeals to our initiative to provide students with a quality product that is affordable. The technical specs on this product show it to have earcups with outside noise rejection, an adjustable noise-cancelling microphone for adding audio during the editing process, and USB connectivity. The headset is fully compatible with iMacs and is the first headset to be washable (once that you separate the cord, of course). A quality product that lasts should give us plenty of use in the multimedia suite.
#4 - 5 Celestron Photographic/Video Tripods (total cost $125)
As Robb Montgomery states, "Only avoid using a tripod when it is impractical." (Betancourt) This budget tripod is originally designed with hunting in mind, but is compatible with the Canon Vixia camcorder as well as binoculars and spotting scopes. While most reviews, such as this one, are restricted to technical specs, we appreciate this model for its price and its adjustable leg height of 63 inches. Due to its affordable price of $25, we feel it would be important and not cost-prohibitive to purchase a tripod for each camera.
#5 - 2 Azden SGM-X Supercardioid Shotgun Condenser Microphones (total cost $118)
One problem that exists with budget camcorders is the quality of sound captured by the built-in microphones on most models. Personally, we feel as though this is where manufacturers tend to cut costs. For this reason, we feel as though it would be beneficial for our more serious vloggers and amateur videophiles to have the use of this excellent product, which is compatible with the 3.5 mm input on the Canon Vixia. A shotgun mic is used to capture audio within a set radius at a distance and eliminate background noise. This product can be found for an affordable price on Amazon.com and has mostly positive user ratings. While reviews are hard to come by on this model, we prefer this demonstration provided by Bucky of the Azden's capabilities. Its default setting provides a clear sound free of the "hiss" captured by some mics and we also like that it is compatible with the Vixia's 2-channel stereo mode. As Bucky mentions, an added bonus is that the Azden will not leach the camcorders battery, instead relying on its own battery power).
Final cost: $9,947.95
Works Cited
Adcock, Gary. "Final Cut Pro X Takes a Radical New Approach." Macworld. IDG Consumer & SMB, 24 June 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
"Azden SGM-1x Shotgun Microphone Audio Test." YouTube. YouTube, 01 May 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
Betancourt, Leah. "Mashable." Mashable. Mashable, Inc., 9 Oct. 2009. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
"Califone Offers Two-Year Warranty to Provide Schools Added Reliability for Headphone and Headset Purchases." ESchool News. ESchool Media, Inc., 8 Jan. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
"Canon Trims Sub-$1,000 Camcorder Lineup for 2013." CNET. CBS Interactive, Inc., 7 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
"Canon Vixia HF R40." - Reviewed.com Camcorders. Reviewed.com, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
"Canon VIXIA HF R40." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
"Celestron Photographic / Video Tripod with Pan Head." TechHive. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
Galbraith, James. "IMac Review: Modest Gains for the New Entry-level Haswell IMac." Macworld. IDG Consumer & SMB, 3 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
"Titanium™ Series Headset." HPK-1010's -. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.